Employees at Boeing’s Renton facility celebrate the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line. (Boeing)
Thousands of Boeing employees have gathered at the company’s Renton facility in Washington State to celebrate the delivery of the 10,000th 737 to Southwest Airlines and a new world record.
The milestone aircraft is a 737 MAX 8, N8717M.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7QnTXokjY[/embedyt]
The festivities on Tuesday (US time) included fresh recognition for the evergreen narrowbody from Guinness World Records, which presented Boeing with a certificate proclaiming the 737 as “the most-produced commercial jet aircraft model”.
…dramatic pause… It’s official! Guinness World Records (on site today) has just recorded the Boeing 737 as “the most-produced large commercial jet” in aviation history. #10k737#boeingpic.twitter.com/0ui0w6QG6x
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
Login
Become a Member
To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.Forgot password?
To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today! A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
“This incredible milestone is a testament to the work we do every day to build the most reliable and efficient single-aisle airplane in the world,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Kevin McAllister said.
“It represents more than 50 years of success and achievement on the part of thousands of Boeing employees past and present, our supplier partners, and our airline customers around the globe who put their confidence in the 737.”
It is the second time the 737 has been recognised by Guinness World Records. The first occasion was in 2006, when the 5,000th 737 rolled off the final assembly line.
As indication of the ramp up in production in recent times, the first 5,000 737s took about 40 years to produce, Boeing said.
However, the next 5,000 aircraft were built in about 12 years.
“The speed at which Boeing achieved this new milestone is very impressive,” said Guinness World Records official adjudicator Michael Empric said.
“We are excited to once again recognise the 737 and the important role it plays in commercial aviation.”
Boeing is currently producing 47 737s a month, a rate that will rise to 52 a month later in 2018. The 10,000th Boeing 737 is for Southwest Airlines. (Boeing/Twitter)
In this part of the world, Qantas and Virgin Australia are both big current operators of the 737 with 75 and 82 in their fleets, respectively. Others of the 10,000 737s built have been delivered to Qantas predecessor Australian Airlines, plus Ansett Airways and Air New Zealand.
Fantastic congrats Boeing. Great to see so many in Aust and Virgin with the largest fleet is impressive.
Roger
says:
tigerair Australia also operates the 737 in this part of the world.
ben lang
says:
roger the tiger 737 is actually virgins on lease to its lcc tiger
cygan
says:
GREAT plane – I was PIC on the 737-100/200/300/300 EFIS.
cy
Anil
says:
Congratulations Boeing.
Craigy
says:
I am quite sure it was Ansett Airlines not airways.
Always loved watching the tail plane wobble when reverse thrust was used on the 100 and 200
Boeing has done well with the B707 fuselage in two follow on products, the B727 and B737
Rod
says:
Boeing is Best
Rod
says:
If it’s not a Boeing I’m not going
w
says:
Will it take 6 years to make 5000 more ?
Kim
says:
Twinkle, twinkle little Boeing, how I wonder where you’re going
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky………
Loved the 727 back in the day, also the 767. Had to get used to the 737.
Michael Angelico
says:
The record is for commercial aircraft – how many military aircraft have hit the five digit mark? I’m guessing World War 2 would have produced some contenders, the Texan/Harvard maybe? And the Me.109 was in production for several of the busiest years.
iscover
Scott
says:Fantastic congrats Boeing. Great to see so many in Aust and Virgin with the largest fleet is impressive.
Roger
says:tigerair Australia also operates the 737 in this part of the world.
ben lang
says:roger the tiger 737 is actually virgins on lease to its lcc tiger
cygan
says:GREAT plane – I was PIC on the 737-100/200/300/300 EFIS.
cy
Anil
says:Congratulations Boeing.
Craigy
says:I am quite sure it was Ansett Airlines not airways.
Always loved watching the tail plane wobble when reverse thrust was used on the 100 and 200
Boeing has done well with the B707 fuselage in two follow on products, the B727 and B737
Rod
says:Boeing is Best
Rod
says:If it’s not a Boeing I’m not going
w
says:Will it take 6 years to make 5000 more ?
Kim
says:Twinkle, twinkle little Boeing, how I wonder where you’re going
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky………
Loved the 727 back in the day, also the 767. Had to get used to the 737.
Michael Angelico
says:The record is for commercial aircraft – how many military aircraft have hit the five digit mark? I’m guessing World War 2 would have produced some contenders, the Texan/Harvard maybe? And the Me.109 was in production for several of the busiest years.